Under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, an employer is required to appoint a qualified medical practitioner and provide occupational health services in factories where a hazardous process is carried on, and the medical examination of workers engaged in such processes must be conducted at what stage?

Section 6 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 casts a duty on the employer to ensure the health, safety and welfare of workers, including the conduct of free medical examinations. In establishments involving hazardous processes or where workers are exposed to specified risks, the employer must arrange for medical examination of every worker before employment and thereafter at such periodical intervals as may be prescribed. The purpose is to detect occupational diseases at an early stage and to ensure that workers are fit for the tasks assigned. The results and records of such examinations are maintained in the prescribed manner, reinforcing preventive occupational health protection.